MANILA, December 27 - - In this merriest of seasons, everyone should always remember that food safety is our first concern. The FDA is posting this reminder to urge the public to exercise food safety practices in order to protect themselves and their loved ones from illnesses that may be acquired by eating food contaminated with microbial or chemical elements. During the holiday rush, consumers must not forget to be very careful in the selection, purchase and preparation of food. Unsafe food can cause food-borne diseases like Hepatitis A, gastroenteritis, cholera, typhoid fever, amoebiasis, as well as poisoning from toxic chemical substances.
According to Dr. Suzette H. Lazo, Director IV of the Food and Drug Administration, practical food safety tips include the following:
- Hands must be washed properly before preparing food and before eating
- Prepare food only in clean areas and placed in clean bowls and utensils. Never allow the juice of uncooked meats to drip on other food items which can result in contamination and cause harm.
- When cooking or heating meat, make sure that it is steaming hot all the way through the center. Buy fruits and vegetables that are fresh. Wash them thoroughly with running water at home before cooking or eating.
- Keep food covered to prevent flies and other insects from coming in contact with them and result in microbial contamination. Leftovers should be refrigerated immediately after a meal.
- Also check the physical condition of the product. Avoid buying dented, bulging, deformed, broken seals and improperly seamed canned food.
- Remember to give extra care and attention in preparing, storing and serving food for parties
- Remember that when in doubt about a food, do not eat it or buy it. Dispose spoiled foods properly making sure others do not consume them.
The FDA also advises consumers buying processed foods to always buy from reliable/approved sources and to always check the labels. Improper or unlabelled processed food should not be bought. Look for open date markings (expiry date/consume before date, best before date); for perishable products, check the expiry date very carefully. (DOH-FDA/PIA9/ALT)